Starter for internal-combustion engines



Dec-

J. HASSELBRING, JR

STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES \Fj 163d NOV. 29, 1921 /f INVENTOR I TNT 5W 54 ATTORNEY- Patented Dan, 192a UNITED STATES PATENT oFF ca.

JOHN HASSELBRING, JR. F FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed November 29, 1921. Serial No. 518,542.

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starters for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to starters for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to an electric starter adapted for use upon automobiles.

In starters for internal combustion engines as now commonly used upon automobiles, it is the practice to provide a direct connection between an electric ,battery, usually a secondary battery, and a starting motor adapted to be connected with the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, this electrical connection having arranged in the length thereof, a manually operative make and break mechanism, usually controlled by a foot plunger. The circuit to the starting motor is entirely independent of the circuit to the ignition system of the engine, thus requiring the closing of two independent circuits in order to permit the starting of the engine under the controlof the starting motor.

I have heretofore devised a starter which is so constructed as to cause a simultaneous closing of the circuits to the ignition system and to the starting motor by means'of a single manually operative switch, the starter (being so constructed that when the engine has come to speed under its own power, the circuit to the starting motor will be auto- 40 matically interrupted and will remain open so long as the engine is running, but will be closed automatically in the event of the slowing down of thmengine or its stalling, thus serving to apply the power of the starting motor to the engine and preventing the complete stalling thereof, or ensuring the re-starting thereof- 'n the event of such stalling thereof.

A starter embodying my invention incl udes a normally open circuit to the starting motor including therein a make and break mechanism, one member of which constitutes the armature of an electromagnet, which is the primary circuit controller in the starter and is connected in multiple with said make and break mechanism and said battery, and a secondary circuit controller for the circuit to said magnet, having arranged therein a normally closed make and break mechanism, one of the members of which constitutes the armature of an electromagnet, which constitutes a secondary circuit controller for interrupting the circuit to the primary controller and is arranged in circuit with a generator, driven from the internal combustion engine, means being' provided whereby in the event of the failure of said primary circuit controller, the make and break mechanism in the circuit from the battery to the starting motor may be manually closed.

My present invention relates to a further 4 development'in the type of starter above referred to, whereby in the event of the generator being out of order, the automatically acting mechanisms of my starter may be so set manually as to prevent possible exhaustion of the battery or injury thereto through short-circuiting thereof. The manually operative mechanism for thus interrupting the circuit may also be used, if desired, to prevent the automatic application of power to the engine through the starting motor, after the engine has once been started, or'permit only a manual control of the battery circuit to the starting motor.

A starter embodying my present invention is, therefore, so constructed that power may be applied to the starting motor simultaneously with, and through the same switch mechanism used in, the closing of the circuit to the ignition system of the automobile; or said starter may be made entirely inoperative throu h the interruption of the circuit to the primary control by a manually operative device; or in the event at the failure of either or both controls, bi' eak mechanism in the circuit from" the battery to the starting motor. It is apparent, therefore, the present invention affords adequate safeguards to ensure,

tion of the power from the storage battery the manual actuation of the make and 1 that a starter embodying or prevent, the applicas to the starting motor in the event of a failure of any of the parts of the mechanism,

instrument board of an automobile, and so construct and arrange the primary control as to permit it ,to. be arranged under the floor boardof an automobile so as to be conveniently accessible to the foot of the driver.

The invention consists primarily in a starter for internal combustion engines embodyingtherein a motor .adapted to be operatively connected with an engineshaft, a generator driven from the engine, an electric battery, electrical connections whereby said battery may be placed in circuit with said motor, a normally open make and break mechanism in said circuit, a primary controller operative upon said make and break mechanism,- consisting of a magnet,

cuit controller consisting of an electromagelectrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said battery, and a normally closed make and break mechanism arranged in said circuit, a secondary cirnet operative upon said last named make and break mechanism, and electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said generator, a manually op erative switch mechanism adapted to simultaneously close the circuit to the ignition system of an engine and to said primary controller, whereby the closing of said manually operative switch will energize said primary=controller to cause the'closing'of the ClI'Clllti-O sald starting motor, and when the engine is operating under its own power, said generator will energize the magnet of said secondary controller to interrupt the circuit to the magnet of said primary controller, and cause the circuit to said fmotor to be interrupted, and manually operative means whereby the make and break controllers;

mechanism in the circuit to said motor may be actuated independently of said and. in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the primary controller mechanism and the make and break mechanism actuated thereby, the top casai'ng thereof being broken away;

ler partly insection and partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section of the secondary controller mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof with 5 portion of the top plate broken away;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical conditions in and about a starter embodying my invention.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Inthe accompanying drawings, I have not shown the gas engine nor the details of construction thereof and of the starting motor by which power is transmitted from the motor to the engine, sincethis constrlu'rtion is old and well known in the art and its details are immaterial to my present invention.

In the embodiment of myinvention shown in the drawings, reference being had particularly to Fig. 6, I have shown conventionally at (1., a starting motor adapted to be connected in any desired manner with the shaft of. an internal combustion engine, and at b a generator which may be driven from said engine in any desired manner.

The power for the motor a is derived from a suitable electric battery, such as the secondary or storage battery illustrated at c, which battery is also adapted to supply current for the ignition system, illustrated conventionally at d, of an internal combustion engine. 7

The battery 0 is in electrical connection with the motor a by means of the wires c"-0 having arranged therein a make and break mechanism, to be more fully described hereinafter, the battery 0 having a ground connection c and-the motor (I- having a ground connection a, said make and break mechanism being under the electrical cont-rolof a primary controller mechanism 6, thecircuit to" which is normally closed by a secondary controller 7". At I have shown a ,manually' operative switch electrically connected with the battery (2 through the wire 0 and the wire It, one terminal of said switch being connected through the wire a with the ignition sys tem (Z, and the other terminal being in electrical connection with the primary controller e througlrthe Wires ff having in the length thereof a make and break mechanism actuated by the secondary controller f. The primary controller 6 has a ground connection 6, While the secondary controller 1 f has a ground connection The generator I) is in circuit with the ignition system (i and the storage battery 0 through the wires b?), the ordinary cutout having the ground connection a", and the switch 5 Sa1d generator is also electrically connected with the secondary controller f by the wire 6 and has a ground connection 6 The foregoing mechanism relates broadly to the characteristics of a starting mechanism of the type to which my invention relates, said invention relating more particularly to the detailed construction of the primary controller 6 and of the secondary controller 7 by means of which the former may be actuated entirely independently of the latter, and the latter may be made inoperative as to the former, so as to interrupt the circuit thereto from the battery 0, to prevent short-circuiting of said battery, to prevent automatic functioning of the starter, or to permit the starter to be manually controlled while ensuring an automatic interruption of the circuit to the motor a.

For convenience in the use of the primary and the secondary controllers, said mechanisms and their appurtenances are made in entirely independent units, the former being adapted to -be mounted beneath the flooring of a car and exposed through an opening therein, and the latter being adapted to be mounted upon the instrument board of a car where it is conveniently accessible to the hand of the driver.

The detailed construction of the primary controller which will first be described, is such as to cause a normally open circuit from the battery 0 to the motor a, this controller being in the form of an electromagnet placed in circuit with said battery through the secondary controller 7, the switch 9 and the wires heretofore described, so that with the closing of the circuit by the switch 9, said magnet will be energized to actuate said make and break mechanism to close the circuit to said motor, said make and break mechanism, however, being so constructed and arranged that, if desired, the circuit from said battery to said motor may be closed entirely independently of said primary controller and said secondary controller.

The primary controller 6 consist-s of an electromagnet j carried in a suitable housing is having a top plate is. Within said housing are opposed spaced contacts m-m', one of which as m, is in electrical connection with the battery 0 by means of the wire a and the binding post 912?; and the 3 other as m is in electrical connection with the motor a through the wirep leading from the binding post m Mounted adjacent the terminals m-m is a bridge contact 02 carrying a foot plunger a mounted in a suitable bushing 11?, the top of which is substantially flush with the car flooring 12?. Carried by the bridge contact a is an armature p extending across the core of the magnet y' and the tops of the yoke 7) connected with the opposite ends of the magnet core contact '7'.

to afford a substantially closed circuit for the magnetic flux. While the bridge contact nis preferably of a low resistance metal as copper, the armature p and yoke p are preferably formed of steel, or iron, to increase the effect ofthe traction of the magnet Acting against the armature p is a spring 37 normally disengaging the bridge contact a from the contacts m-m. By this construction. it will be apparent that while with the energizing of the magnet j, the bridge contact n will be engaged with the spaced contacts viz-4n against the tension of the spring 31 said bridge contact member may also be engaged with said contacts by pressure applied manually to the plunger 72 so that while normally, as will more fully appear hereinafter, the actuation of the make and break mechanism mm'-n will be entirely automatic, said mechanism may also be manually actuated so as to permit the closing of the circuit from the. battery 0 to the motor an entirely independently of said magnet j.

The secondary controller consists of an electromagnet q having ahollow core g, said magnet being in constant electrical connection with the generator I) through the wire 6 so as to cause the energizing of this magnet at all times while the generator is producing current. Acted upon' by said magnet is a make and break mechanism consisting of a fixed contact member '1' and a movable contact member 1", the latter being arranged within the magnetic field of the magnet g and'being acted upon by a spring 0* encircling the projecting end of said core, engaging said contact member 1'' and normally forcing it into engagement with the Said contact members 1' and 1" are provided with platinum points, as shown,

One of these members, as 1", is in electrical connection with the primary controller magnet 7', while the other contact, as r,-is in electrical connection with the battery 0 through the wires f and h and the switch 9.

Said contacts and said magnet are enclosed in a suitable casing s from which the electrically charged parts are properly insulated, said casing being provided with an escutcheon plate a by'means of whichthe secondary controller unit may be attached to the instrument board 8 of an automobile.

The top of the casing s has a winged opening indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5 at p, in the top thereof. Passing therethrough and through the hollow core 9 is a plunger at having an enlarged head u adapted to operativelyengage the movable contact member r and impart movement thereto against the tension of the spring r Said plunger is acted upon by a spring '0 of greater strength than the spring 1 and having a normal tendency to engage the enlarged head a of said plunger u with the contact member r and disengage said contact member from the contact member if. The spring o is normally held under tension so as to make the plunger a inoperative as to the contact 7" by means of the pins 14 engaged with the under side of the top of the casing 8 adjacent the winged opening t therein.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows By making the primary controller unit and the secondary controller unit entirely independent one of the other, the former may be readily mounted beneath the floor board of an automobile adjacent the drivers seat, while the latter may be mounted at a conveniently accessible point upon the instrument board of an automobile, there being a single wire connection f between the two units.

Under normal conditions the plunger a I will be forcedinwardly of the casing s so as ,to disengage the enlargement u thereof from themovable contact member r", this .relation of parts being maintained through the engagement of the pins 2& with the under side of the top plate of the casing 8. When the parts are in this position, the circuit to the battery 0 is normally closed at all times'when the-switch g is closed, so that the primary controller magnet y .will be energized simultaneously with the closing of the switch 9.

When an engine is at rest, the spring p will hold the bridge contact member 11 out of engagement with the contacts m-m, thus maintaining an open circuit from the battery 0 to the motor a. Instantly, however, with the closing of the circuit to the primarycontroller through the make and break mechanism actuated by the secondary controller, and the switch 9, the traction of the magnet j will cause contact of the contact member a with the contact members mm, thus closing the circuit from the battery c to the motor a, applying power to the v internal combustion engine, and continuing to apply power thereto until the engine has come to speed.

As the engine comes to speed, current will be generated by the generator 7), thus energizing the secondary controller magnet 9, the traction of which magnet will act upon the movable contact member 1", and move it'out of electrical engagement with the fixed contact member 1" and thus interrupt the circuit to the primary controller magnet j, and permitting the s ring 10 to move the contact it away from t e contacts m-m and thus interrupt the circuit from the battery 0. to the motor a.

It will thus be observed that at all times,

except when it is necessary to apply power motor a to prevent stalling o to the engine by the motor a, the circuit from the battery 0 to said -motor is interrupted, but that so long as the parts are in the engine is determined solely by the functioning of the engine and of the generator 7).

If, for any reason, the circuit to the magnet of the primary controller is interrupted, it is merely necessary for the driver to de-- press the plunger 9%, and thus manually I engage the bridge contact a with the contacts mm, thus closing the circuit to the motor a through the manual actuation of the make and break mechanism arranged in said circuit.

Under some conditions, as when a generator is not functioning properly, it is essential to interrupt the circuit to the primary controller independently of .the secondary controller in order to interrupt the circuit from the battery 0 to the motor a. Under such conditions it is merely necessary for the driver to turn the plunger a slightly so as to permit the pins 10 to pass through the winged opening 2?, whereupon the spring 2; will engage the enlarged head a of the plunger a with the movable contact member r and'move this contact member out of engagement with the fixed contact member r, thus placing the interruption of the circuit to the magnet j under manual control.

Said plunger u may also be used to manually control the circuit to the magnet j as when it is desired to avoid the automatic application of power to the en 'ne by the the engine after it has once been started, or to make the starter inoperative while an engine is idling.

d The wiring arrangement shown in Fig. 6, is such that the current from the ignition system may be either drawn from the batusual manner 1n recharging the battery 0.

. tery c or supplied from the generator 6, and

panacea the application of power by the motor a will be semi-automatic to the extent that the closing of the circuit through the primary and the secondary controllers may be accomplished by means of the plunger a, while the interruption of said circuit will be entirely automatic through the functioning of the secondary controller magnet g; or the circuit may be closed through the contacts n m m entirely independently of said primary and said secondary controllers through the medium of the plunger n.

In this manner the engine may be started in three distinct manners through one and the same starter mechanism, thus affording adequate safeguards against such a disarrangement of parts in the starter mechanism as might tend to make the use of this mechanism impossible.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it

being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described claim as new and desire to have by Letters Patent, is

1. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a motor adapted to be operatively connected with an engine shaft, a generator driven from the engine, an electric battery, electrical connections whereby said battery may be placed in circuit with said motor, a normally open make and breakmechanism in said circuit, a primary controller operative upon said make and break mechanism, consisting of a magnet, electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said battery, and a normally closed make and break mechanism arranged in said circuit, a secondary circuit controller consisting of an the invention, what I protected electromagnet operative upon J said last named make and break mechanism, and

electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said "generator, a manually operative switch mechanism adapted to simultaneously close the circuit to the ignition system of an engine and to said primary controller, whereby the closing of said manually operative switch will energize said primary controller to. cause the closing of the circuit to said starting motor, and when the engine is operating under its own power, said generator w1ll energize the magnet of said secondary controller to interrupt the circuit to the magnet of said primary controller, and cause the circuit to said motor to be interrupted, and manually operative means whereby the make and break mechanism in the circuit to said motor may be actuated independently of said controllers.

Q -Astarter for internal combustion entherein a motor adapted to be operatively connected with an engine shaft, a generator driven from the engine, an electric battery,- electrical connections whereby said battery may be placed in circuit with said motor, a normally open make and break mechanism in said circuit, a primary controller operative upon said make and break mechanism, consisting of a magnet, electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said battery, and a normally'closed make and break mechanism arranged in said circuit, a secondary circuit controller consisting of an electromagnet operative upon said last named make and break mechanism, and electrical connections whereby said magnet gines embodying is placed in circuit with said generator, a

manually operative switch mechanism adapted to simultaneously close the circuit tothe ignition system of an engine and to said primary controller, whereby the closing of said manually operative switch will energize said primary controller to cause the closing of the circuit to said starting motor,

and when the engine is operatingunder its own power, said generator will energize the magnet of said secondary controller to inbe actuated independently of the secondary controller magnet to interrupt the circuit to said primary controller magnet.

3. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a motor adapted to be operatively connected with an engine shaft,-a generator driven from the engine, an electric battery, electrical connections whereby said battery may be placed in circuit with said motor, a normally open make and break mechanism in said circuit, a primary controller operative upon said make and break mecha nism, consisting of a mag net, electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said battery, and a normally closed make and break mechanism arranged in said circuit, a sec-v ondary circuit controller consisting of an electromagnet operative upon said last named make and break mechanism, and electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said generator, a manually" operative switch mechanism adapted to simultaneously close the circuit to the ignition system of an engine and to said primary controller, whereby the closing of said manually operative switch will energize said primary controller tocause the closing of the circuit to said starting motor, and when the engine is operating under its own power, said generator will energize mechanism in the circuit to said motor may be actuated independently of said controllers, and manually operative means whereby themake and break mechanism arranged in spaced the circuit to the magnet of said primary controller may be actuated independently of the secondary controller magnet to interrupt the circuit to said primary controller magnet.

4. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a motor adapted to be operatively connected with an engine shaft, a generator driven from the engine, an electric battery, spaced contacts, one of which is electrically connected with said battery and the other of which is electrically connected with said motor, a bridge contact to close the circuit through said last named contacts, an electromagnet adapted to i'mpart movement to said movable contact in one direction, a spring adapted to normally disengage said movable contact from said contacts, electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said battery,- and a normally. closed make and break mechanism arranged in said circuit, a secondary circuit controller consisting of an electromagnet operative upon said last named make and break mechanism, and electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said generator, a manually operative switch mechanism adapted to simultaneously close the circuit to the ignition system of an engine and to said primary controller, whereby the closing of said manually operative switch will energize said primary controller to cause the closing of the circuit to said starting motor, and when the engine is op erating under its own power, said generator will energize the magnet of said secondary controller to interrupt the circuit to the magnet of said primary controller, and cause the circuitto said motor to be interrupted, and a, plunger carried by said movable contact adapted to project through the flooring 01": an automobile, whereby said movable contact may be engaged with said spaced contacts against the tension of said spring to close the circuit to said motor independently of said controllers.

5. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a motor adapted to be operatively connected with an engine shaft, a generator driven from the engine,

an electric battery, spaced contacts, one of which is electrically connected with said battery and the other of which is electrically contacts, an electromagnet adapted to impart movement to said movable contact in one direction, a pole yoke carried by said magnet, terminating adjacent said movable contact, an armature carried by saidmovable contact in operative relation to said yoke, said movable contact being of a metal of low resistance, and said armature and said yokebeing of iron or steel, a spring adapted to normally disengage said movable contact from said spaced contacts, electrical connections whereby said magnet'is placed ing motor, and when the engine is operating under its own power, said generator will energize the magnet of said secondary controller to interrupt the circuit to the magnet of said. primary controller, and cause the circuit to said motor to be interrupted, and a plunger carried by said movable contact adapted to project through the flooring of. an automobile, whereby said movable contact may be engaged with said spaced contacts against the tension of said spring to close the circuit to said motor independently of said controllers. I

6. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a motor adapted to be operatively connected with an engine shaft, a generator driven from the-engine,

an electric battery, electrical connections whereby said battery may be placed in circuit with said motor, a normally open make and break mechanism in said circuit, a primary controller operative upon saidmake and break mechanism, consisting of almagnet, electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said battery, a fixed contact, a movable contact cooperating therewith, a secondary circuit controller consisting of an electromagnet having a core, operative upon said movable contact, a spring normally engaging said movable contact and forcing it into engagement with said fixed contact, and electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said generator, a manually operative switch mehan-ism adapted to simultaneously close the circuit to the igni tion system of an engine and to. said primary controller, whereby the closing of said manually operative switch will energize said primary controller to cause the closing ofthe circuit to said starting motor, and when the engine is operating under its own power,

7 said generator will energize the magnet of said secondary controller to interrupt the circuit to the magnet of said primary controller, and cause the circuit to said motor to be interrupted, and a reciprocatory' member adapted to engage said movable contact and disengage it from said fixed contact, whereby the circuit to the magnet of said primary controller may be interrupted independently of said secondary controller magnet. 7. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a motor adapted to be, operatively connected with an engine shaft, a generator driven from the engine, anv electric battery, electrical connections whereby said battery may be placed in cir-- cuit with said motor, a normally open. make and break mechanism in said circuit, a primary controller operative upon said. make and break mechanism, consisting of a magnet, electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said battery, a fixed contact, a movable contact cooperating therewith, a secondary circuit controller. consisting of. an electromagnet having a hollow core, operative upon ,said movable contact, a spring normally engaging said movable contact and forcing it into engagement with said fixed contact, and electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said generator, a imanually operative switch mechanism adaptedto simultaneously close the circuit to the ignition system of an engine and to-said. primary controller, whereby the, closing of said manually operative switch will energize said primary controller to cause the closing of the circuit to said starting motor, and when the engine is operating under its own power, said generator will energize'the magnet of said secondary controller to interrupt the circuit to the magnet of said primary controller, and causethe circuit to said motor to be interrupted, a manually operative plunger mounted in said hollow core and passing through said movable contact, an enlargement thereon adapted to engage said contact on the side thereof away from said spring, a spring acting upon said plunger having a normal tendency to impart movement thereto to disengage said movable contact from said fixed contact, and means wherebysaid plunger may be held out of engagement with said movable contact, or

be permitted to move same out of engagement with said fixed contact, whereby the circuit to said primary controller magnet may be opened independently of said secondary controllermagnet.

- controllers,

8. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a 'motor adapted to be operatively connected with an engine shaft, a generator driven from the engine, an electric battery, spaced contacts, one of which is electrically connected with said battery and the other of which is. electrically connected with said motor, a bridge contact to close the circuit through said last named contacts, an electromagnet adapted to impart movement to said movable contact in one direction, a spring adapted to normally disengage said movable contact from said spaced contacts, electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said battery, a fixed contact, a'movable contact cooperating therewith, a secondary circuit controller consisting of an electromagnet having a hollow core," operative upon said movable contact, a spring normally engaging said movable contact and forcing it into engagement with said fixed contact, and electrical connections whereby said magnet is placed in circuit with said generator, a manually operative switch mechanism adapted to simultaneously close the circuit to the ignition system of an engine and to said primary controller, whereby the closing of said manually operative switch will energize said rimary controller to cause the closing 0? the circuit to said starting motor, and when the engine is operating under its own power, said generator will energize the magnet of said secondary controller to interrupt the circuit to the magnet of said primary controller, and cause the circuit to said motor to be interrupted, a manually operative plunger mounted in said hollow core and passing through said movable contact, an enlargement thereon adapted to engage said contacton the-side thereof away from said spring, a spring acting upon said plunger. having ,a normal tendency to impart movement thereto to disengage said movable contact from said fixed contact, means whereby said plunger may be held out 'of engagement with said movable contact, or be permitted to move same out of engagement with said fixed contact, whereby the circuit to said primary controller magcnet may be opened independently of said secondary controller magnet, and a plunger carried by said movable contact adapted to project through the flooring of an automobile, whereby said movablecontact may be engaged with said spaced contacts against the tension'of said spring to close the circuit to said "motor independently of said I In .witnesswhereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 22nd day of Novem- 

